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Sunday, 31 January 2016

Welcome to my stop on the Ascendancy blog tour. This book has an awesome cover!!! I get to share an excerpt with you, but you can check out the full schedule HERE.

Ascendancy by Karri Thompson Published by Entangled Teen Published on November 30th, 2015 Genre: YA Dystopian

I’ve been lied to, deceived, and manipulated once again. I shouldn’t be surprised, but in a way I am. You’d think I’d be treated with dignity, my every desire fulfilled by those who need me the most. But instead, they plan to control me, keep me hidden, and force me to be complacent while I give birth over and over again.
Hell, I’m the one who’s supposed to save humanity, right? I’m the one with the power to re-populate this world of clones, my ancestors who were produced from harvested DNA.
Michael. He loves me. At this point, he may be my only friend. There may be others. Tension is building in the regions. A secret sect is growing. A rebellion is imminent.
My awakening into this future should have been my savior, my renaissance, my ally.
But instead, it has become my plague.

Michael was the only good thing to come out of my awakening. I didn’t know how long we’d have together, but I realized I wanted to make every second with him count. Twisting to face him, I brought my right leg to the other side of his body and kissed him gently at first, and then a little harder as he brought his hands to my back, massaging his fingers against my shoulder blades.

His lips moved to my neck, and he slid his hand through the hair at the base of my head. I lay against him, savoring his warm breath at my throat as his chest pressed against mine.

“Duck!” Cradling my body, he scrambled to the floor, bringing me down with him.

“What?” I whispered.

“I saw something outside. A shadow. It looked like a person.”

“Victoria! I need to get her.” Crawling on my hands and knees, I entered the living room and picked up my sleeping baby.

“Behind the couch. Let’s go.”

“Watch her,” I said, and rested her on the floor next to Michael.

Drawing the laser pistol from my waist, I scooted to the edge of the couch where I could see the back door.

“I locked it,” he whispered, “but any Security guard or SEC can open it.”

Top Ten Things You Need to Know About ACENDANCY and The Van Winkle Project Series.

Here are ten things to keep in mind while you’re reading MIRROR X and ASCENDANCY.

This series can be a bit disturbing to some people.

One reader posted on Amazon: “Mirror X is an unconventional, horrifying dystopian that in many ways has veins of other popular YA books but takes them to a new level, one darker and decidedly more twisted. Several of the plot points are ingenious and just so despicable and wicked that it’s hard to imagine that much evil and lack of regard for personal space.It’s creepy in the vilest and intrusive ways, getting under your skin and working its way through your system in the form of shock and disquieting foreboding. If you’re looking for the kind of chilling, goosebumps inducing, hair on end read without breaking into the horror genre, this is definitely for you.”

I LOVE this review!!!

Don’t forget that Cassie’s mom was a paleontologist and was constantly on digs. Cassie accompanied her mother, so Cassie was homeschooled except for one semester of high school. Since Cassie grew up around adults rather than her peers, she is very mature for her age. In addition, she is incredibly bright and with the vocabulary of an adult. In the evenings, she used to read the college text books that the grad students used to loan her.

After you find out who Magnum – whoops, I don’t want to spoil the plot. Okay, so after something about Magnum’s DNA is revealed, think about Ella, and see if you can guess the source of her DNA. This fact is never disclosed in the series – you have to figure it out for yourself.

Cassie is a virgin, and she’s only had one boyfriend. Due to this, she is extremely inexperienced when it comes to guys. Since Cassie was “awakened” 1,003 years after her death, she is all alone in this world. Michael gives her comfort, and they grow close. Do not mistake this for “insta-love.” Their relationship develops over time, and she is more willing to forgive him for keeping information from her because at one point, he is all she’s got.

As you’re reading the series, especially the first book (MIRROR X), don’t get too mad at Michael for keeping information from Cassie. Remember that he was raised at GenH1, for the sole purpose of being a genetics’ genius. At first, he is torn between his obligation to the hospital and his obligation to his patient (Cassie). And don’t forget that he’s only 20 years old.

Please don’t think Cassie is selfish. Yes, she is a very mature teenager, but she is still a teenager. Since she constantly traveled with her mother and worked alongside her and many grad students on digs, Cassie is also extremely independent. When someone tells her that she has to do something, and she doesn’t have a choice or say in the matter, she’s going to react negatively. Cassie does know right from wrong, and she typically makes the right choices.

If you think the world should be more advanced in 3025, don’t forget that after the plague, the world went through a technological recession, since the people’s focus was on reestablishing the population, rather than making space shuttles.

L-Bands (Liaison Bands) – do you have one? When I wrote MIRROR X, smart watches didn’t exist. Okay, so unlike L-Bands, smart watches are not linked to a central computer, which in turn, links them to every other L-Band in the world. And of course, people are not “banded” with a smart watch at birth during a “banding” ceremony and then forced to wear it for the rest of his or her life. But while reading this series, think about how similar a smart watch is to an L-Band, since they are also connected to a GPS. Crazy.

In this series, the world is divided into three regions, each with its own president. The three presidents are supposed to work together, sharing power, but things may not always be how they appear.

Lastly, you should know that I love this series, and I hope you do, too. I’m working on book 3 right now, RELEGATION (working title), and I want you to enjoy my characters and visiting this world as much as I do.

About the Author:
Karri Thompson, a native of San Diego, California, grew up hanging out at the beach, playing sports, and eventually attending San Diego State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in education. When she’s not nerding out at San Diego Comic-Con or watching Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings movies for the umpteenth time, she can be seen doing normal people stuff like teaching high-school English, cooking delicious meals for her family (she attributes all of her culinary skills to the Food Network), and attending her son’s football games. In her spare time, she writes young adult and new adult fiction, her biggest passion, and loves listening to hard rock music and going to concerts. She hopes to live long and prosper, and that you will, too.

Starting over for Rosamund Brandt is more complicated than it sounds. Especially when the past keeps coming back to haunt her. As she and her mom and brother try to pick up the pieces in a new home, the universe seems determined to tear them apart even more as secrets multiply, and distrust grows.While new threats and unknowns emerge, Rosamund struggles with her own inner battle. Her new powers are growing whether she wants them or not, and their origins and nature are sketchy at best. The more that’s revealed to her, the more uncertain she feels.Choosing allies and facing new and old enemies alike may not be their biggest problems. Not if Rosamund’s worst fears come true. Could she be the one they should fear the most?

As entranced as I felt, I was still with it enough to act. Right before she plunged her spear into my forehead, I opened a black hole. She fell through, crashing face first on the asphalt. I backed up, bracing myself. She whipped her face toward me, springing back onto her feet. Besides having a killer power, she was also incredibly agile and fast.Despite that, I wasn’t the least bit put off. Somewhere in my mind, I thought that was strange, but I couldn’t dwell on it. She stood, two short swords growing from the palm of her hands. She swung her arms in unison in tight, controlled movements. This wasn’t her first rodeo.I should have been filleted with the first strike, provided they could actually slice through a solid object, but I ducked out of the way in time. Then again. She followed as I backed away, striking and swinging with force and precision. I should have been sliced and diced several times over, but I dodged each time. How? I didn’t have extraordinary reflexes for sure. And she definitely wasn’t missing.As I dodged again, I realized something weird was happening to her. Each time she raised her arms, it was like she slowed down. But not of her own volition. I think she knew it was happening, too, because each strike got angrier, more determined. Like she was frustrated. I wasn’t frustrated, but I was confused, and getting tired.She raised her arms yet again, so I slipped behind her through a portal while I had the chance. I pushed up against the wall for leverage, kicking her back. It threw her slightly off balance.She turned around and paused, listing her head like questioning what I intended to accomplish with that.“Man, I really need to work out.”But there was little time to berate myself. I twirled through a portal before she struck again, stabbing the wall instead of me. As she turned, her blades sweeping around with her, another set of blades, blazing like fire, swept up, sparks flying as the two sets collided.I followed the new set of fire swords–curved, slender blades–up to the face of my mystery guy. The swords protruded from his hands like the shadow’s blades, and the rings around his irises burned like my mother’s did sometimes. His angular face was locked in a snarl. He spat something in the Maon language, which I took to mean, “Not on my watch.”I blinked as that sunk in. He’d just spoken Maon.Their blades circled around, locked together, and the Maon-speaking fire swordsman swung blow for blow, parrying and striking with as much fluidity and ease as the shadow. The shadow swung at his head, and he bent backward, the edge of the blade just missing his nose. He replied by crossing his swords and thrusting them out, which would have finished her off if she hadn’t dissolved in time for them to strike the air instead.Their blades locked together again, and the fire swordsman pushed, shooting the shadow person to the other side of the road. She hit pavement and rolled.

Author Bio:Amy is a sci-fi/mystery addict with a soft spot for humor and romance. She lives in Massachusetts, and loves to bake and watch movies. Learn more about Amy and her books at http://amysaundersauthor.com.

Saturday, 30 January 2016

Hi guys. I've recently entered an amazing contest that I wanted to share with my readers!! How would you like to win THE DISCOVER SCI-FI $100,000 GIVE-AWAY!!!Grand Prize is 40 signed, personalized first edition books from world’s top sci-fi authors plus more than 2500 prizes of free books and more!!!! Who wouldn't want to enter ;) You can enter the giveaway HERE and the best of luck!!!

Friday, 29 January 2016

Welcome to my tour stop for The Seekers Series, The Children of Darkness and The Stuff of Stars by David Litwack. This is a science fiction dystopian series from Evolved Publishing.

About The Children of Darkness:

“But what are we without dreams?”A thousand years ago the Darkness came—a terrible time of violence, fear, and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For ten centuries they have kept the madness at bay with “temple magic,” and by eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything.Childhood friends, Orah and Nathaniel, have always lived in the tiny village of Little Pond, longing for more from life but unwilling to challenge the rigid status quo. When their friend Thomas returns from the Temple after his “teaching”—the secret coming-of-age ritual that binds young men and women eternally to the Light—they barely recognize the broken and brooding young man the boy has become. Then when Orah is summoned as well, Nathaniel follows in a foolhardy attempt to save her.In the prisons of Temple City, they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy, for a truth from the past awaits that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might once again release the potential of their people.Yet they would also incur the Temple’s wrath as it is written: “If there comes among you a prophet saying, ‘Let us return to the darkness,’ you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the Light.”

I loved the idea of the plot. "A thousand years ago the Darkness came-a terrible time of violence, fear, and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For ten centuries they have kept the madness at bay with "temple magic," and by eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything." In other words, a devastating war happened. The Temple of Light was created where the Vicars kept everything secret and only thought people what they wanted to teach. The Vicars word was law and if you questioned anything, you were taken for a "teaching". Those taken were different when they were brought back! Creativity and Curiosity were not allowed and people lived a simple life.

Nathaniel, Orah and Thomas have always been friends. All have questioned if the Vicars are right, though never in pubic! It's when Thomas is taken for a teaching that Nathaniel and Orah really begin to question things. Then Orah is taken and Nathaniel goes to save her. While there "they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy, for a truth from the past awaits that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might once again release the potential of their people. ~ Yet they would also incur the Temple's wrath as it is written: "If there comes among you a prophet saying, 'Let us return to the darkness,' you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the Light."

I'm not saying anything else about the plot because I don't want to ruin it, so all I'll say is that it's unique and interesting! The characters were all fleshed out and well written. I liked Orah and Nathaniel but thought Thomas needed to be more adventurous. At times he came across as an after thought and wasn't really compelling.

In all this was an engaging read. It's not action packed but kind of plods along, which I found weird at first because most of the dystopian books I've read have a lot more action, but it works for this book. This is a story of discovery, of finding yourself and breaking free from your bonds. The 3 youngsters try to do what's best for their people, but is it truly what they need?? The ending left us with that question, so I definitely need to read the next one!

About The Stuff of Stars:

This second book in The Seekers dystopian series continues the story started in the critically-acclaimed The Children of Darkness.Against all odds, Orah and Nathaniel have found the keep and revealed the truth about the darkness, initiating what they hoped would be a new age of enlightenment. But the people were more set in their ways than anticipated, and a faction of vicars whispered in their ears, urging a return to traditional ways.Desperate to keep their movement alive, Orah and Nathaniel cross the ocean to seek the living descendants of the keepmasters’ kin. Those they find on the distant shore are both more and less advanced than expected.The seekers become caught between the two sides, and face the challenge of bringing them together to make a better world. The prize: a chance to bring home miracles and a more promising future for their people. But if they fail this time, they risk not a stoning but losing themselves in the twilight of a never-ending dream.

The urge to write first struck at age sixteen when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the wild night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by the northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter’s editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process — and without prior plan — becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.

GIVEAWAY:$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)+ a second winner wins paperback copies of The Children of Darkness and The Stuff of Stars (US)Ends Feb. 10Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

Welcome to my stop on the Blood Moon tour. I get to share a wonderful excerpt for you below, but you can check out the full schedule HERE. Don't forget to enter for the giveaway of the beautiful necklace!!

The aftermath of the wildfire has caused undesirable events to unfold in Everealm. When something precious is taken from Junacave, Bree and the others must hunt down a wizard and retrieve a stolen amulet in order to save their beloved. Little do they know, the amulet may very well be hiding secrets of its own.On her journey to a better life, away from Labara, Rianne discovers that being on her own is more challenging than she had predicted. Determined to escape her betrothal to King Carneath, she must do everything in her power to avoid being captured or else face a certain life of misery. Along the way, she stumbles upon a new ally, who may be the answer to her prayers.Bonds are broken, relationships are tested, and new love is forged under the Blood Moon, Book Three of the Everealm Series.

Rowan picked up a small piece of white lace and looked at it. Then he placed it back on the table and picked up another piece of lace from beside it.

“This is ridiculous. Why are you spending so much time looking at lace?”

“Because I need to choose one, of course, for the tabletops” Bree replied, walking around to the opposite side of the table.

“But they are all the same…”

“No, they aren’t.”

Rowan picked up a second piece and held it beside the other in his hand.

“They look identical.”

Finn leaned over the table and pointed to the first lace. “The flowers are the same, but the border is different,” he said.

Rowan shook his head. “Why don’t you just close your eyes and pick one?” He was met with widened eyes and looks of disgust on Bree and Finn’s faces. “Or not.”

“Each piece of silkwork requires a skilled hand and many days’ time,” Bree said. “To just pick one would be incredibly rude. You must admire each design, then carefully choose a pattern that will mirror the elegance of the ceremony.”

Rowan heard her speak, but he didn’t understand a word that she said. It sounded like rubbish created to pass the time. He knew that men typically left wedding ceremony planning to women, so he still didn’t understand why Bree insisted he be there. He doubted she cared for his opinion, anyway. “Perhaps, I should leave the two of you to this matter…”

“No!” Bree said, reaching across the table to grab Rowan’s arm before he could turn away. “We don’t need to choose lace at this very moment, but we do still need to... discuss the guests.”

“We already did that, yesterday. And it’s nearly bedtime now.”

“I meant to say the food. We need to discuss the food.”

Rowan narrowed his eyes. “Breestlin…”

Bree let go of his arm and straightened up. She tried to keep her face calm but hearing him say her name that way was a clear sign that he suspected something. If she didn’t convince him otherwise, she might as well kiss her plan goodbye.

“What? Why are you looking at me that way?” she asked.

“What did you do?”

“I haven’t done anything and I am insulted that you would even suggest it.” Her attempt at denial was useless. He could read her like a book.

“What did she do?” Rowan asked, turning to Finn.

“Don’t look at me. If she is scheming, it doesn’t involve me this time.”

“Sidonie,” Rowan said, looking at Bree, again. “Where is she?”

“Upstairs, I believe,” Bree replied. “With Sarita.” That much was true.

Rowan stared at her but didn’t say a word.

“Stop staring. It’s incredibly annoying, Rowan. Stop.”

“I know you’re up to something.”

“I am not. And even if I were, it is none of your concern.” She looked down and pretended to brush something off of her skirts.

“Ha! I knew it. Don’t you remember what happened the last time you interfered in matters that didn’t involve you?

“How was I to know that the fairy queen would force them to marry!” Immediately, Bree knew that she had told him exactly what he wanted to hear. The smirk he was now giving her was proof. Damn.

About the Author

Writing has always been a hobby of mine, beginning as a young child. It was a way to cope with losing my father at seven years of age. I started with poetry and was featured several times on the amazing poetry blog, Autumn Leaves, by Sondra Ball. My love for poetry soon led to writing songs in middle school and beyond, which I still do occasionally. Music has always been an important part of my existence, so writing songs came naturally to me. In high school, I started my own novel, however, life got in the way and I never finished it.Fast forward many years later and I find myself married with three children, absorbed in my busy life with commitments to my family, work, school, church, and charities, among other things. One day I came across my old binder, with notes from my first novel, and it was with those notes that I conjured up the elusive Everealm.I write to please readers such as myself, who have a love for fantasy and romance, but like a little danger and sex in their reading. I wrote the book with a mature audience in mind, who can appreciate a hearty imaginary world with magic and the unknown, but want more than fluffy love stories with wizards in them. They want the romance, magic, and danger, all wrapped into one.

The destruction of California is at hand.Cassidy Hart and Chris Young have survived a dangerous mission into the heart of Sky City, a secret Omega base hidden deep in the mountains, but their vengeance has come with a price. The dark, ominous cloud of nuclear war threatens to destroy everything they love, and they are forced to make one final stand against Omega’s western invasion force.San Francisco.
Cassidy and her friends retreat to Alcatraz Island, regrouping with their lethal strike team, the Angels of Death. Their mission: infiltrate the most important Omega base on the west coast, and assassinate everyone they find there, including a new and dangerous enemy, the ruthless Omega leader Veronica Klaus.The clock is ticking.
Ashes rain from the sky. Cassidy Hart must make a choice.
What is more important? Victory, love or revenge?Omega is the enemy’s name.
Survival of the fittest is their game.Cassidy Hart will not stop until she has saved California…but will she be too late?Book #7 of the Bestselling Collapse Series by Summer Lane

The dark, dank smell of the cave seeps into my bones and chills my soul. Dim, flickering firelight crawls up the walls, throwing a shadow across my face. I hug my blanket tightly around my shoulders, shivering. It is painfully silent.

There are people everywhere—about thirty of us—but there is no talking. No whispering, no laughing. We are too tired to talk. Too cold. Small fires have been lit here in the cave, but it is hardly enough to remedy the cloying chill of the winter storm.It is all sharp angles and rocky slopes in here. There is no soft surface, no privacy. Most people are asleep right now. It has become the only way to make the time pass quicker. Waiting, as we are, for the storms to end. For this harsh winter to be over.But it is not getting better.It is getting worse.I cough and shudder. We have been trapped here for weeks. I feel as if the walls are falling down around me, devouring me. I close my eyes tightly, brushing my calloused fingers over the familiar, worn grip of my rifle.Soon, this will all be over.Soon, we will all be dead.

Interview with Summer Lane

Topic:Where Collapse is Headed: And What Happens After!

This is your seventh installment in the Collapse Series! When is the series ending?

The Collapse Series will end at the tenth installment, but that does not mean that the characters are going away forever. The Collapse Series does exactly what it’s name suggests: it follows the collapse of society and civilization. After I’m done with that, I can move to what happens after.When is Book 8 releasing?Summer 2016. The next book will take Cassidy somewhere she has never been before – far away, to a place full of surprises. I can’t say too much, because I don’t want to spoil State of Destruction! Let’s just say it will be pretty cold where she’s going.Any other books?I announced that I’m working on releasing another series this year, The Bravo Saga. This series follows the adventures of the fierce and loyal Bravo, the German Shepherd companion of Elle Costas in the Zero Trilogy. He’s one of the most popular characters – if not THE most popular – that I have ever created for readers, so I’m excited to share his story next.How do you write so many books a year?Hmm. I’m not really sure. I’ve been so incredibly busy for three years – I haven’t stopped to think or breathe. It’s definitely a positive thing, but I will probably start to roll back to 2-3 book releases a year after the Collapse Series has finished. Just so I can have a little downtime between books. It’s important to rest your brain when you’ve been creating non-stop for such a long period of time.

Author Bio:Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling Author of The Collapse Series and the compelling tie-in novella books of The Zero Trilogy, as well as the upcoming Bravo Saga (releasing Spring 2016). She is also the author of Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, a #1 bestselling graphic companion to her phenomenal original series.She is the owner of WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine. Summer is also an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher. Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her days writing, teaching, and writing some more. When she is not writing, she enjoys leisurely visits with friends at coffee shops, movie dates, reading and spending the day at the beach or mountains.

I'm a wife, mother to 4 wonderful boys and a total bookaholic :) Im Irish and I read mainly anything Paranormal, Fantasy, Dystopian and Post Apocalyptic. I'm a big fan of Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries and binge watch them when Im not reading!

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About Me

I'm a wife, mother to 4 wonderful boys and a total bookaholic :) Im Irish and I read mainly anything Paranormal, Fantasy, Dystopian and Post Apocalyptic. I'm a big fan of Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries and binge watch them when Im not reading!